My circumstances......His timing

My bag is packed.

I've done my checklist.

Malaria pills?

Check.

Passport?

Check.

My favorite travel pillow?

Check.

Stash of dark chocolate?

Are you kidding me??

CHECK!!

I'm leaving for Africa in the morning.

And if I sleep well tonight at all.

Yeah.

(That's not going to happen.)

But if I do sleep well tonight,

It'll be my last solid sleep.

For close to two days.

Our flight is not as direct this time.

Atlanta to Chicago.

Chicago to Paris.

Paris to Nairobi.

My youngest is a little bitter about my Paris connection.

(hehe)  

I'm traveling with several former teammates.

Including my roommate, Heather.

There's also trip veteran, Brandon & our team leader, Barron.

Barron usually tells us.

".....it's really not a big deal to go to Africa....I usually throw a few things in
a suitcase the night before we leave..."

Yeah.

That would not be me.

I've thought about the timing of this trip a lot.

About fourteen of us were originally going last September.

But plans changed.

The terrorist attack at the mall in Nairobi caused concern for safety.

And.

The trip was cancelled.

Four days before departure.

And we stayed home.

Today.

I'm in a totally different set of circumstances in my life.

Than I was five months ago.

And I have to believe.

That's for a reason.

God's going to use my current circumstances.

In this trip.

He's all about timing.

What's true for me right now.

May be true for you.

It's been an  incredibly busy time.

I don't remember a season quite like the one I'm in right now.

My plate has been loaded.

Projects.   Responsibility.    Deadlines.

Just carrying a load.

It's been like that for months.

And what does God allow me to do.

Literally.

Right in the middle of all my busyness?

Step out.

Of all that's going on.

Get on a plane.

Fly to the other side of the world.

With people I know.

And many that I don't.

To go to a place.

Not dictated.

Or restricted by time.

Or deadlines.

Where the pace is slower.

Needs are simple.

And Jesus is often bigger.

My circumstances......running head long into His timing.

We'll see what He has planned.

Thanks for your prayers as our team goes.

Tomorrow morning.

I'm

On

My

Way.

A Window Seat in Kenya

We were heading back into Nanyuki that afternoon.

On the big green bus.

All week long, we'd driven many miles back and forth.

Just over an hour one way.

From our hotel out to the bush.

An area called Segera in the northern part of Kenya.

I love the ride out to the villages where we serve.

On that bus.

Most of it on a dirt path......not sure you could even call it a road.

I settle into a seat by the open windows.

And take it in.

Some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen.

 In my life.

We drive for miles to and from the villages of Ereri, TuTu and Mbogoni.

With Mt. Kenya looming off in the distance.

Nothing but flat Africa landscapes in every direction.

Everything you would imagine.

Acacia trees.

Big open skies.

Occasional herds of goats tended by very young children.

Spider monkeys darting in and out of a fence line along way.

Random camels.

Even zebras.

And little "Pumba's"

That afternoon.

As our bus slowly passed her on the dirt road.

I was absolutely struck by the sight of her.

Herding a single......huge.....white cow just steps ahead.

She was incredibly tall.

Naturally elegant.

Statuesque.

And dressed.

In the most vivid pink I've ever seen.

She was Masai.

And I knew instantly.

It would be an incredible photograph.

Camera already in hand.

I raised it out the window and took aim.

Her expression changed in an instant.

To an immediate offense and frown.

Her hands objecting in defiance.

She never said a word.

But her meaning was clear.

NO picture!

Whatever her reason.

I immediately obliged.

Lowered my camera.

Just as quickly as I raised it.

And just looked at her.

And in return.

She rewarded me.

With a bright smile.

And an appreciative wave.

I'll never forget that image.

As long as I live.

I've thought about it many times.

There are .....of course......countless other images.

Not to be forgotten.

This is scheduled to be my church's last trip into Segera.

And I wouldn't miss it.

I'm leaving with my team in just twenty days.

20 days.

And my plans?

Be where my feet are.

And take it all in.

The land.

The children we've worked with and known.

Enjoying the rides on the green bus.

And what I might see.


By

       The

             Window

                        Seat.

What Looms Ahead

Sometimes.

You just need to believe that you can do it!

It......meaning whatever is looming ahead of you.

I told someone close to me recently.

I do not remember a season of time in recent years.

When the "whatever is looming ahead "

seemed to be so towering as they are in the present circumstances.

Responsibilities.

Projects.

Assignments.

Deadlines.

And they all decided to get together in the month of February.

I've really been asking God in my prayers.

For strength.

Not just to check all these things off my list as successfully done.

But to get to the end of them.

Without looking  -    (spiritually......and maybe even physically)

as they say in my family....

"like a piece of bad Georgia road."

I'm really not wanting that.

And what's happened as I've prayed for strength?

God has given me a word.

Every time I pick up my bible.

Or my devotional.

On providing strength for what lies ahead.

I don't know about you.

But I realized some years ago.

I am not the super woman I thought I was.

I know.

Amazing, isn't it?

It was a stark realization, I don't mind telling you.

And as I'm looking ahead at some mountains I have to climb.

In the guise of projects, assignments and deadlines.

They do look daunting.

And I could revert to fear and discouragement in a flash.

Fear and discouragement are there every day for the taking.

But Jesus says otherwise.

And because I've asked Him to give me what I need.

He's been providing it.

Morning.

After morning.

After morning.

I'm terrible at memorizing scripture.

When I spit it out in my blog.

Very often I have to go back and find it.

(o.k.  .... every time I go back and find it.)

So that I get it down right.

But,  believe it?   Believe what it says?

Yes, I do.

So.

It's Saturday morning.

I'm up earlier than my man again.

And I crack open my devotional.

And I turn to February 1.

And, what do you know?

Another message of strength & courage is there waiting on me.

That's one of the very cool things about a relationship with Him.

His faithfulness.

An invisible.

Impossible to define, God.

Hears my prayers.

And just like I want my children to have what they need.

He wants the same for me.

He knows exactly what I need.

And continues.........to give it...... to me.

I'm sorry.

You just cannot beat that.

There is nothing else in this world that can give me that.


February 1        

"Jesus Calling" Sarah Young

"Follow me one step at a time.  
That is all I require of you.
You see huge mountains looming,
and you start wondering how you're going to scale those heights.  
Meanwhile, because you're not looking where you're going,
you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now.
As I help you get back on your feet,
you tell me how worried you are about the cliffs up ahead.
But you don't know what will happen today, much less tomorrow.  
Our path may take an abrupt turn, leading you away from those mountains.
There may be an easier way up the mountains than is visible from the distance.  
If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb.
I will even give my angels charge over you, to preserve you in all your ways.

Keep your mind on the present journey, enjoying my Presence.
Walk by faith, not by sight,
trusting Me to open up the way before you."


Psalm 18:29;  Psalm 91: 11-12;  2 Corinthians 5:7